Bad strings = funny buzzing...?

eastcoasteddie · #1 03-27-2010, 08:21 AM

I never had this before (in 17 years of bass playing) until recently.
I used to have a Warwick Rockbass Fretless, and it came with D'addario flats. The E string made a really funny buzz sound when hit open, but as soon as it was "fretted" there was no buzz. Sounded like something on the bass itself was vibrating, like the bridge saddle. I changed the strings and the buzz was gone. That was last year.

I recently got a new Dean bass that had the stock strings on it (don't know what they were, had red silk on the ends). They sounded very bright like unused strings should, but the E had that same exact buzz. It even came through the amp and was annoying as all heck. Also, the G had all these weird buzzes that sounded like fretbuzz around the 7th-11th frets, but were much more annoying. I couldn't get rid of these buzzes no matter how I played with the action on that string and keep it the bass playable.

I couldn't take it anymore and installed DR Low-Riders. The bass now sounds clean as a whistle. I was even able to lower the action more than I had it and nothing buzzes.

What's up with these strings that makes them buzz like this? Or is it just that you get what you pay for?

Jaco who? · #2 03-27-2010, 09:13 AM

Did the open E sound a little bit like someone about 5 garage doors down was using a circular saw? I had some new Sit silencers like that, replaced them (oh, the irony) with some D'addario chromes and it disappeared. I've been meaning to try again making sure I don't twist the string, but I really didn't get along with those much anyway.

BassieMike · #3 03-27-2010, 09:19 AM

First thing to do with any new or new to you instrument.... fresh strings.

'nuff said,
-mike

eastcoasteddie · #4 03-27-2010, 09:22 AM

It sounded more like as if I was playing next to a snare drum, when the snare vibrates against the bottom skin and makes that hissing noise.

Also, another thing about the Dean Strings. When intonating the D string, the bridge saddle was at it's maximum adjustment up towards the neck and the string was still slightly flat. After I installed the DR's, all of a sudden it was sharp. I had to move the saddle back and got it just right. Another weird thing I never experienced...

steveinohio · #5 03-28-2010, 05:00 PM

Ive had strings do that. Usually they are budget strings. I bought a couple boxes of cheap strings when our Guitar Center opened. I think out of two boxes I was able to put one set together that didnt have that problem. Ive had that problem a couple of other times with decent strings. I just end up taking that string back for a replacement.

BrewCityLdB · #6 04-04-2010, 04:01 AM

I don't know if this will fix your problem but it's one more possible cause for the unwanted noise. Find something to deaden your strings between the nut and the tuning peg (hair tie, small piece of foam, etc). Sometimes this area of the string will vibrate during playing and cause that area of the string to resonate. I had a Spector NS-20004 with a brass nut that did this and I had to keep a hair tie wrapped just behind the nut the whole time I owned the bass.

songoan · #7 04-05-2010, 03:13 AM

Hi Eddie,
Can you tell me if your buzz sounded like this?
Musicman stingray buzz (sound
I'm having that weird noise and I suspect the strings to be the cause.
Thanks.

jasper383 · #8 04-05-2010, 05:25 AM

If a string buzzes open, and it goes away when any fret is pressed, it's usually a nut thing. Did you ever check the nut? Changing strings might help, because they will vibrate differently, or maybe the gauge is just different enough that the string no longer vibrates in the nut the same way.

Your G string 7-11 fret issue sounds like a high fret.